Hi Guys,

Weird thing happening to my car.. About two weeks ago, I noticed that my AC wasn't blowing while I was driving.. I don't really use the AC in my car, but it was hot that day so I threw it on.. At 1st I thought there may have been a problem while my radiators were being installed about a month ago..

2 days ago, I was leaving a friends house at night, and my headlights wouldn't turn on when the engine was running.. When I turned the engine off, but had the ignition switch turned both the AC and the headlights were working. When I turned the engine on, they would not work
- Also the highbeams work when I pull them forward, but I can't leave them on (in pushed back position)


Any help on what the issue could be? I'm hoping just repalce the fuses or something like that..

Any help woudl be greatly appreciated.

 

Ignition switch or headlight switch= both can cause crazy problems. Would lean towards ignition switch.

 

Ignition switch. Had the same issue with my NA 996. Good news is that it is a $12 part at NAPA (or $30 if you want to go high dollar and order from Pelican). Takes about 30 minutes to swap out. Lots of info on here and the NA 996 forum on how to do it. You don't need to swap out the tumblers, just the electrical part that plugs into the tumblers. Will cost about $500 if you take it to the dealer.

 

The switch is about $30 from VW as porsche no longer sells it. They instead want you to replace the entire ignition mechanism to the 997 part at a cost of $175 and a lot more labor. The electrical switch is much easier to replace and should last quite a while. When this starts failing it can cause all sorts of electrical problems, such as a parasitic battery drain, car not starting, key not coming out, ac or radio not working etc. While you are down there change out the clutch switches and the tail light switch.

Do a search for the part number, make sure you get the right one as there are two, one for the 996 ignition and one for the 997 ignition.

 

Thank you for the tips.. I'm experience the key not coming out, etc..

This makes me feel better about what is going on.. Will try and fix soon.. thanks guys.

 

The most common electrical failure on these old Porsche's is the ignition switch. Things such as very strange electrical problems like this can happen with a bad switch. We have an OEM supplier switch for $31 or a JL switch for $10. Check them out here. This DIY Tech Article should be relevant to the fix as well.

-Luccia

 

i'm cross posting this as it bears repeating. the switch is the same as the vw/audi switch and ive bought them here twice... for six bucks. and again, that said. pelican rocks just this ones got ya beat lol

get whichever ones you like. but they are all the same, except the price lol

my radio used tp go on/off randomly until i read about that symptom possibly being the ignition switch and changed the switch. now i hear sh**ty music only when i turn it on.

don't fall for reported difference btw 996/986/997 etc parts. they often do this. sometimes the same and you gotta play smart
not sure if it fits 997 though? never tried it.

edit: oh sh*t! the price went up to 9 bucks. must be the yuan vs the dollar again ! lol pelican is only 50 cents higher for their generic switch